Mamoul

Maamoul 

For the Cookie:

Semolina flour                                  3 cups

Salt                                                   ½ tsp

Butter, room temp, diced                  2 sticks (1/2 #)

Rose water                                        2 tsp

Whole milk                                       ½ cup

For the date filling:

Medjool dates, pitted                        ½ #

Orange blossom water                      1 tsp

Butter                                                         ½ tsp

For the walnut filling:

Walnuts, crushed                              ½ cup

Cinnamon, ground                                      ½ tsp

Sugar                                                2 Tbsp

Orange blossom water                      1 tsp

For the pistachio filling:

Pistachios, shelled, crushed               ½ cup

Cinnamon, ground                                      ½ tsp

Sugar                                                2 Tbsp

Orange blossom water                      ½ tsp

Rose water                                        ½ tsp

To make the cookies:

1       Mix the salt and flour together

2       Rub the butter into the flour mixture until it is completely incorporated and resembles coarse cornmeal.  Cover and let rest overnight.

3       Add the rose water and milk to the flour mixture and stir until a dough forms.

To make the date filling:

1       Check all dates to assure that pits are completely removed.

2       Process the dates, orange blossom water, and butter in a food processor until a ball forms.

To make the nut fillings:

  Toss all ingredients together in a small mixing bowl until homogenous. 

To finish the cookies:

1       Preheat an oven to 425 degrees.

2       Dust the wooden paddles with flour

3       Add a Tbsp of dough to the paddle and work it around the edges of the mold.

4       Fill the lined paddle with the filling of your choice.

5       Using 1 to 2 tsp of dough, cover the filling, making sure to seal the seams along the edges of the dough.

6       Turn out the cookies from the mold by wacking the paddle on the sheet tray or work surface. 

7       Repeat

8       When all cookies have been made, bake them in the preheated oven for approx 10-13 minutes, or until the bottoms are browned.

9       Let the cookies cool completely, then dust them in powdered sugar.